Electrical plug guard

ABSTRACT

An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc, a central body portion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongs of an electrical plug, an outer rim to extend radially beyond the periphery of the plug when the disc is placed adjacent thereto by inserting the prongs through the slots in the said central body portion of the disc, resilient electrically nonconductive ribs extending from and around said central body portion joining it resiliently to said outer rim, said resiliently joining ribs permitting longitudinal movement of the outer rim away from the central body portion when pressure is applied against the rim and permitting return of said outer rim back to the plane of the central body portion when such pressure is released, said ribs providing a protective cage around the prongs of the electrical plug when the outer rim is moved longitudinally away from the central body portion frictionally held adjacent to the electrical plug to prevent a person&#39;&#39;s fingers from accidentally touching the prongs and resulting in electrical shock when connecting or disconnecting the plug to an electrical outlet.

United States Patent I 1 Whippo Oct. 2, 11973 ELECTRICAL PLUG GUARD [75]Inventor: Walt Whippo, Cocoa Beach, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Product Horizons, Inc., Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,638

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrcll P. LewisAttorney-Ernest S. Kettelson [57] ABSTRACT An electrical plug guardcomprising a flat disc, at central body portion, slots therein forreceiving and frictionally holding the prongs of an electrical plug, anouter rim to extend radially beyond the periphery of the plug when thedisc is placed adjacent thereto by inserting the prongs through theslots in the said central body portion of the disc, resilientelectrically nonconductive ribs extending from and around said centralbody portion joining it resiliently to said outer rim, said resilientlyjoining ribs permitting longitudinal movement of the outer rim away fromthe central body portion when pressure is applied against the rim andpermitting return of said outer rim back to the plane of the centralbody portion when such pressure is released, said ribs providing aprotective cage around the prongs of the electrical plug when the outerrim is moved longitudinally away from the central body portionfrictionally held adjacent to the electrical plug to prevent a personsfingers from accidentally touching the prongs and resulting inelectrical shock when connecting or disconnecting the plug to anelectrical outlet.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Oct; 2, 1973 INVENTOR WALT WHIPPOBY SMX K ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL PLUG GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an electrical plug guard in the form of a flat dischaving an outer rim surrounding a central body portion and joinedresiliently by resilient electrically non-conductive ribs extendingaround and between the outer rim and central body portion, the latterincluding slots to receive and frictionally hold the prongs of anelectrical plug whereby the body portion is held adjacent to the plugwhen pressure is applied against the outer rim, which extends radiallybeyond the periphery of the electrical plug, to move the rim away fromthe plug causing the resliently joining ribs to become extended and forma protective cage around the prongs of the plug. A persons fingers whengrasping the plug for insertion into an electrical outlet are therebyprotected, since if they slip or accidentally move beyond the edge ofthe plug they contact the outer rim of the disc pressing it forwardcausing the ribs to extend and the protective cage to form to preventcontact between the persons fingers and prongs of the electrical plugwhen they are being inserted into an electrical outlet. When the plug isinserted in the outlet, the outer rim is brought back into the plane ofthe central body portion by the resiliency of the ribs whereby theentire device becomes a flat disc with all parts lying heretofore knownhave required complicated mechanical construction, are expensive tomake, relatively quick to fail, and are usually incorporated as a partof the plug itself. The plug guard in accordance with this invention canbe purchased separately, made of various sizes and shapes for use with awide variety of electrical plugs on electrical appliances, extensioncords and the like already purchased and in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrical plug guard which comprises a flatdisc, an outer rim portion of greater circumference than that of anelectrical plug with which it is to be used, a central body portion,slots therein to receive and frictionally hold the prongs of anelectrical plug, and resilient electrically non-conducting ribsextending around and between said outer rim portion and said centralbody portion to join together in resilient relationship, said ribsforming a protective cage around the electrical prongs when said outerrim portion is moved away from said electrical plug towards anelectrical outlet in which said plug is being inserted, said ribs andouter rim portion resiliently returning to the plane of the central bodyportion when pressure on the outer rim portion is released therebyreturning to the form of a flat disc.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical plug guard inthe normal form of a flat disc, deformable into a protective cage aroundthe prongs of an electrical plug to which it is affixed when pressure isapplied to the outer rim of the disc, and resiliently returnable to theoriginal form of a flat disc when pressure against the outer rim isreleased.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical plug guardwhich may be sold separately for use on already existing electricalplugs.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical plug guardwhich may be made by a single cutting operation of slots in a flat discof electrically nonconducting resilient material to form a central bodyportion, an outer rim portion movable longitudinally therefrom,resilient ribs between and connecting said outer rim and central bodyportions and slots in said central body portion for frictionallymounting on the prongs of an electrical plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of theelectrical plug guard in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of this invention showing the plug guardmounted on an electrical plug.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of this invention showing the plug guardmounted on an electrical plug with the outer rim portion of the plugguard moved outwardly from the plug body and illustrating the connectingresilient ribs forming a protective cage around the prongs of theelectrical plug.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of this invention taken from the rear ofthe plug guard showing the outer rim portion moved away from the centralbody portion and the resilient ribs forming a protective cage.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings indetail, the electrical plug guard in accordance with this invention mayconsist of a round flat disc generally designated 1, having an outer rim2, a central body portion 3, and ribs 4 therebetween connecting outerrim 2 with central body portion 3. Slots 5 are formed in central bodyportion 3 to receive and frictionally hold the prongs 6 of an electricalplug 7. Two slots 5 are illustrated in FIG. 1 for receiving two prongsof an ordinary household electrical plug. It is obvious however that oneor more additional slots or holes may be formed in the central bodyportion 3 to receive one or more additional prongs of an electricalplug, such as a third prong for a ground, so this invention may be usedwith a wide variety of electrical plugs. The circumference of outer rim2 is greater than the circumference of the electrical plug 7 on which itis used to enable contact with outer rim 2 by a persons fingers whengrasping plug 7 for insertion into an electrical outlet.

The ribs 4 are formed by cutting slots 8 in the disc 1 in accordancewith the following arrangement. Each rib 4 is bordered by a slot 8beginning from a midpoint 8a and diverging in one direction to a firstend point 8b ending at the inner edge of outer rim 2 and in an oppositedirection to a second end point ending at the outer edge of central bodyportion 3. The slots 8 are arranged circumferentially around the disc 1so that midpoint 80 to first end point 8b of each slot is substantiallyparallel to and spaced radially from second end point 80 to midpoint 8aof the next adjacent slot 8. Further, first end point 8b of each slot 8,midpoint 8a of the first adjacent slot 8 in one circumferentialdirection, and second end point 8c of the second adjacent slot 8 in thesame circumferential direction, are in radial alignment when outer rim 2and central body portion 3 are in the same plane, each of said pointsspaced apart with first end points 8b lying radially farthest from thecentral axis, said radially aligned midpoints 8a lying radially secondfarthest from the central axis, and said radially aligned second endpoints 8c lying closest to the central axis. Each rib 4 is therebyformed between midpoint 8a to first end point 8!; of one slot andinwardly spaced second end point 8c to midpoint 8a of a next adjacentslot in which midpoint 8a of the first slot is radially aligned withsecond end point 80 of the next adjacent slot and in which first endpoint 8b of the first slot is radially aligned with midpoint 8a of thenext adjacent slot.

FIG. 1 illustrates eight slots 8 which in the manner described abovehave eight series of radially aligned first end points 8b of one slot 8,midpoints 8a of an adjacent second slot 8, and second end points 80 of athird slot 8 which is adjacent to the second slot 8, the series of eightradially aligned points being spaced equidistantly apart around thedisc 1. Thus, eight ribs 4 are formed in the embodiment of thisinvention illustrated in FIG. 1.

When outer rim 2 is moved out of the plane of central body portion 3 andaway therefrom causing ribs 4 to extend to provide a protective cagearound prongs 6, the second end points 80 are moved out of radialalignment with first end points 8b and midpoints 8a since outer rim 2tends to rotate axially with respect to central body portion 3 when itis moved longitudinally away therefrom.

A suitable material for the flat disc body 1 is polypropylene althoughother materials having similar properties of resiliency and electricalnon-conductivity may be used.

The electrical plug guard in accordance with this invention is mountedon an electrical plug 7 by inserting prongs 6 through slots 5 until thedisc 1 is flush against the inner face of plug 7. Slots 5 are made justlarge enough to frictionally engage prongs 6 and to frictionally holdcentral body portion 3 against the inner face of plug 7. When plug 7 isto be inserted into an electrical outlet, a persons fingers will contactouter rim 2 of disc 1 in the event they extend beyond the body ofelectrical plug 7, thus forcing outer rim 2 away from plug 7 whilecentral body portion 3 of disc 1 is held against plug 7 by thefrictional engagement of slots 5 with prongs 6. This forces ribs 4 tobecome extended forming a protective cage around prongs 6 to prevent apersons fingers from coming into contact with said prongs when they areinserted into an electrical outlet thereby protecting against electricalshock.

When pressure against outer rim 2 is released, the resiliency of ribs 4and their integral connection between outer rim 2 and central bodyportion 3 as formed in the manner described above causes outer rim 2 andribs 4 to return to the plane of central body portion 3 thus being againin the form of a flat disc.

The disc may be very thin, on the order of onesixteenth inches thick orless. To facilitate extension of ribs 4 and movement of outer rim 2 awayfrom central body portion 3, the portions of ribs 4 between first endpoints 8b, midpoints 8a, and second end points 8c, may be slightlynotched to lessen the thickness between such points from that of outerrim 2, central body portion 3 and the intermediate portions of ribs 4,thus providing hinge means or hinge lines 9. Such hinge lines 9 may beformed by notching one or both sides of disc 1 between the points asdescribed. The thickness of hinge lines 9 will depend on the materialused to make the plug guard. For example, if polypropylene is used, thehinge lines 9 may be on the order of one-thirty secondths of an inch orapproximately half the thickness of the remaining portions of the plugguard.

The particular form of the invention described herein and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings are preferred embodiments, and various changesin the size, shape, materials and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theattached claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim is:

1. An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc having a central bodyportion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongsof an electrical plug, an outer rim portion of said disc which extendsradially beyond the periphery of an electrical plug when mountedthereon, and slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outerrim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slottedmeans simultaneously providing an electrically non-conductive barrieraround the prongs of an electrical plug when said outer rim portion ismoved longitudinally away from said central body portion and anelectrical plug on which it is mounted.

2. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidslotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portionwith respect to said central body portion consists of resilient materialjoining said outer rim portion to said central body portion.

3. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim I, wherein said flatdisc, said central body portion, said outer rim portion, and saidslotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portionwith respect to said central body portion are of the same material andthickness.

4. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidslotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portionwith respect to said central body portion includes ribs joining saidouter rim portion to said central body portion.

5; An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, including slotsforming said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outerrim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slots beinginterposed between and around said outer rim portion and said centralbody portion to provide ribs integrally joining said outer rim portionto said central body portion.

6. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slotsinclude a midpoint and diverge in one direction towards a first endpoint at the inner edge of said outer rim portion and diverge in adifferent direction towards a second end point at the outer edge of saidcentral body portion, the first end point of each of said slots beingradially aligned with the midpoint of the slot next adjacent in acircumferential direction, and with the second end point of the nextfollowing slot in the same circumferential direction when said outer rimportion and said central body portion are in the same plane, saidarrangement of slots providing ribs integrally joining said outer rimportion to said central body portion.

7. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 6, including resilienthinge means joining said outer rim portion and said central body portionto said ribs.

8. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 7, wherein said hingemeans include notches cut partially of an inch thick, wherein saidcentral body portion, said outer rim portion and said ribs are of thesame material, wherein said material is resilient and electricallynonconductive.

1. An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc having a central bodyportion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongsof an electrical plug, an outer rim portion of said disc which extendsradially beyond the periphery of an electrical plug when mountedthereon, and slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outerrim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slottedmeans simultaneously providing an electrically non-conductive barrieraround the prongs of an electrical plug when said outer rim portion ismoved longitudinally away from said central body portion and anelectrical plug on which it is mounted.
 2. An electrical plug guard asset forth in claim 1, wherein said slotted means to permit longitudinalmovement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central bodyportion consists of resilient material joining said outer rim portion tosaid central body portion.
 3. An electrical plug guard as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said flat disc, said central body portion, said outerrim portion, and said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement ofsaid outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion are ofthe same material and thickness.
 4. An electrical plug guard as setforth in claim 1, wherein said slotted means to permit longitudinalmovement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central bodyportion includes ribs joining said outer rim portion to said centralbody portion.
 5. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1,including slots forming said slotted means to permit longitudinalmovement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central bodyportion, said slots being interposed between and around said outer rimportion and said central body portion to provide ribs integrally joiningsaid outer rim portion to said central body portion.
 6. An electricalplug guard as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slots include amidpoint and diverge in one direction towards a first end point at theinner edge of said outer rim portion and diverge in a differentdirection towards a second end point at the outer edge of said centralbody portion, the first end point of each of said slots being radiallyaligned with the midpoint of the slot next adjacent in a circumferentialdirection, and with the second end point of the next following slot inthe same circumferential direction when said outer rim portion and saidcentral body portion are in the same plane, said arrangement of slotsproviding ribs integrally joining said outer rim portion to said centralbody portion.
 7. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 6,including resilient hinge means joining said outer rim portion and saidcentral body portion to said ribs.
 8. An electrical plug guard as setforth in claim 7, wherein said hinge means include notches cut partiallyinto said disc on lines between said radially aligned first end points,midpoints, and second end points of the respective slots forming saidribs.
 9. An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 8, wherein saidflat disc is no greater than one-sixteenth of an inch thick, whereinsaid central body portion, said outer rim portion and said ribs are ofthe same material, wherein said material is resilient and electricallynon-conductive.